MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

US marines land for military exercise in Puerto Belgrano

Exercise “Exchange” 2008

United States marines, as well as from Chile and Brazil were involved in an amphibious exercise with the Argentine Navy in Puerto Belgrano home port of the Argentine fleet. The exercise was described by the Argentine media as evidence of a growing military rapprochement between the two countries.

The purpose of the exercise Intercambio 2008, totaling 300 men, half of them Argentine marines (36 US marines with Iraq experience) was geared to train forces to act combined in peace missions under the command of United Nations. The exercise which took place in the Argentine marines' usual training ground, Bateria, included amphibious landings from Argentine Navy light transport plus combined operations on the ground. "The intention of the exercise is a common language for when the moment comes a UN mission needs this kind force services. The significance of the exercise is given by the continuity factor: Chile in 2007 and Brazil next year, with Peru subscribing as another candidate to join forces", said an official release from the Argentine command. Peruvian officers next to observers from Uruguay, Colombia and Bolivia were present at the exercise as well as Brigadier General John Croley, Commander of the US Southern Command Marine Corps. The fictitious scenario for the display was a situation similar to that in Darfour, Sudan where United Nations faces serious problems. The hypothetical UN intervention would be to fight off two irregular militia forces fighting over water supplies, killing civilians and forcing massive relocation of refugees. The first stage of the exercise would be to land troops to impose peace. Argentine sources revealed that the Marines' force has received funds for the recovery of several landing armored vehicles, essential for this kind of amphibious operations, but which have remained idle since 2000 because of lack of spares and maintenance. Argentine navy vessels were recently involved in high seas exercises with the US Navy which turned up with an aircraft carrier and an escort group including surface and submersible vessels.